MATTHEW RHYS MAKES EMMY HISTORY WITH DOUBLE WIN

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys became the first person in Emmy Awards history to win two lead acting prizes in the same night, at a ceremony held in the United States. He won for his role in the supernatural comedy Widow's Bay and for his performance in the psychological thriller The Beast In Me. Rhys described the achievement as a "surreal and incredible feeling". He said he had not expected to win the first award, for The Beast In Me, and had not prepared remarks, describing his acceptance speech as "the vomit of a speech I came up with".

Widow's Bay, an Apple TV+ series, swept the comedy categories on the night and won the award for best comedy series, taking home 14 trophies in total. Jean Smart also made history at the ceremony, tying with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most overall acting wins in Emmy history, with eight apiece. Rhys was named the biggest individual winner of the night. His two wins spanned different genres, from comedy in Widow's Bay to a darker, unsettling role in The Beast In Me.

Rhys's win prompted renewed attention to an account given earlier this year by actor Bradley Cooper on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which resurfaced on social media following the ceremony. Cooper recalled working with Rhys on the 2015 film Burnt, describing an unscripted scene in which his character attempted to take his own life and Rhys's character intervened to stop him. Cooper said the experience left the two "bonded forever" and described Rhys as "an incredible actor". No further details of Rhys's future projects were confirmed following the ceremony.